Catgirls And Dungeons (Yuri)-Chapter 40: Mana-soul theory

To form my own mana core and complete Stage One, I need to gather mana from the environment and make it my own.

There are three primary ways to absorb mana:

Breathing it in from the air – The most common method, where mana is drawn into the body through controlled breathing exercises.

Ingesting mana-rich potions or foods – This method allows the body to directly absorb mana through digestion. Certain magical plants and elixirs are rich in mana and can drastically accelerate the process.

Absorbing through the skin – While technically possible, this method is highly inefficient compared to the first two. The amount of mana absorbed is negligible unless one is immersed in an extremely concentrated mana-rich environment, such as a mana spring or a leyline convergence.

Since I have no magical potions or rare ingredients to eat, and skin absorption is too slow, my only choice is breathing.

"Yes, just like that. Keep going," Eris encourages.

I focus on my breathing—slow, deep inhales, steady exhales. Yet, not every breath catches mana.

That's because mana doesn't obey the usual laws of physics. It doesn't flow from areas of high concentration to low concentration like air particles do. One can't simply inhale it like dust or oxygen.

Instead, mana is drawn in by three specific factors:

Intent and Willpower – Mana is highly responsive to a person's focused intent and will. When someone concentrates on drawing in mana, their mental energy creates a magnetic-like pull that attracts mana particles. Strong intent, visualization, and even emotional energy act as beacons, similar to how a magnet attracts metal filings.

Resonant Energy – Mana particles are drawn to sources of energy that harmonize with their own frequency, including their own type. For instance, individuals with certain elemental affinities, like fire or water, naturally attract mana particles of those elements. This resonance is also why elemental mana stones form in areas rich in a particular element. As mana of the same type condenses, it crystallizes into magical stones.

Mana Core Presence and Density – A developed mana core acts as a natural attractor, pulling mana toward it like a gravitational field. The stronger and more refined the core, the more efficiently it draws in and stores mana.

But…

I don't have a mana core yet.

I don't even know what my mana attribute is.

That means, for now, I can only rely on willpower. No elemental resonance, no core to assist me—just pure mental focus.

I have to command mana to come to me.

This is why meditation is so essential.

In a meditative state, the mind is at its most powerful, and intention is at its sharpest. Theoretically, this should allow me to gather mana effectively, even without a core.

I take a deep breath, my eyes locked onto the tiny, twinkling mana particles around me.

I try to match my breathing to their gentle rhythm, picturing myself as a magnet, pulling in mana from the air.

With every inhale, I will the mana to flow toward me…

Now… let's see if this works.

At first, there's little response—only a faint trickle of mana drifting toward me. A single particle, then another, then a few more. It feels like trying to cup water with my bare hands, the mana slipping away just as quickly as it comes.

Foll𝑜w current novels on fɾēewebnσveℓ.com.

But gradually… something changes.

More and more particles begin to swirl around me, drawn in by my breathing, by my will. A dozen turns into a hundred, then a thousand. Before long, I feel the entire room responding to me, the mana in the air forming a vortex, spiraling gently in my direction.

With every inhale, mana flows into my body—cool and weightless, yet full of potential. It gathers in my chest, filling me with warmth, a spreading heat that pulses in rhythm with my heartbeat. My senses sharpen. A rush of energy surges through me, a clarity, a euphoria unlike anything I've ever known.

Then, all at once, I feel it.

The mana inside me condenses—coming together, merging, forming something new. A surge of energy ignites within my chest, and in a single, powerful burst, an explosion of warmth floods my core, signaling its birth.

My mana core is formed!

"I can't believe it! You did it!" Eris exclaims, eyes wide with shock.

"R-really?" I gasp, still catching my breath.

"Yeah! Your mana core!"

Even though I can't see it, I can feel it—small, fragile, but undeniably real. A tiny sphere of energy, no bigger than a fish egg, resting deep within me.

And the craziest part?

It only took ten minutes!

I completely shattered the record Eris mentioned, which was two hours!

Now that I think about it, while I'd love to believe I'm some kind of prodigy, there's likely another explanation for this…

My body.

Or, more precisely, this catgirl body.

"Eris, could it be… that I already knew how to use mana, and I'm just… remembering how?" I ask, voicing my suspicion.

Eris's eyes light up. "Hmmm… that could be possible! But if that's the case, shouldn't you have already had a mana core without needing to form one?"

Right… that's true.

If this body already knew magic, then why was my mana core completely absent when I first arrived? Shouldn't it have been here all along?

"Or…" Eris muses, tapping her chin, "could it be that your mana core was destroyed before? That might explain the memory loss."

Destroyed?

I frown. That's an unsettling thought.

"There's a theory about that," Eris continues. "The Mana-Soul Theory."

"Mana… Soul… Theory?" I repeat, my ears twitching with curiosity.

"Yeah," she nods. "There was this crazy old mage who proposed that the mana core is linked to the soul—that the soul itself is like a collection of memories, and if the mana core is destroyed, the soul could be damaged too."

I stiffen.

The soul?

While Eris brushes it off as just a theory, I know for a fact that souls exist.

After all… I'm a reincarnated soul, living in someone else's body.

A chill runs down my spine as an unsettling thought creeps into my mind.

If I'm here now, then…

What happened to the original Felicia?

Where is her soul?

Eris sighs, shaking her head. "Ah, forget it! I've never heard of anyone surviving after losing their mana core, anyway. It doesn't make sense."

Right… maybe I'm just overthinking it.

For now, there's something far more important to focus on.

"Alright, let's keep going! I want to see what your attribute is!" Eris says, her excitement returning.

"Right! My attribute!"

Even though my mana core is formed, the true color hasn't revealed itself yet.

I close my eyes, steadying my breath once more. The mana swirling inside me slowly transforms, shifting from raw energy into something uniquely my own. It's subtle at first, but I can feel the shift.

My very own attribute is about to awaken.

But then…

Eris freezes.

Her eyes widen, her mouth slightly open, her expression shifting into something between shock and disbelief.

"What… is that color?" she murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper.

My heart stutters.

"Huh? Is… is something wrong with my mana core?" I ask, suddenly nervous.

Eris stares at me, eyes locked onto my chest where my core is forming.

"No, your mana core is fine… but…" she hesitates, her brows furrowing deeply. "It's just… this color… I've never seen anything like it before."